An App That Encourages Kids to Move

Today’s children are more involved with screens than any previous generation, and many schools have eliminated recess and physical education. So it’s not surprising that nearly one in three kids and teens in the United States are obese or overweight. But getting kids away from their screens and moving their bodies can be challenging.

That’s why 10 years ago, the American Heart Association and the National Football League joined forces to create the NFL PLAY 60 Challenge, a four-week program to get kids to be active for the recommended 60 minutes a day in school and at home. Keeping up with technology, the AHA and NFL teamed up to create the AHA-NFL PLAY 60 mobile app. The app expands the NFL PLAY 60 Challenge from its original focus on physical activity in school to get youth active beyond the classroom.

The app is an interactive game that uses gyroscope technology in the smart device that requires players to physically run, jump, pivot and turn in order to make their on-screen avatar move. Along the course, players answer health trivia questions and can collect digital coins to redeem for NFL and AHA rewards.

The purpose is to get kids physically active by meeting them on their smartphones and tablets, transforming screen time from a sedentary experience to an active one. Rather than just telling kids to get physically active for 60 minutes every day, it puts a fun, useful tool in their hands to encourage them to get moving.

The free app, for iPhone and Android, is available on iTunes and Google Play. Search for NFL Play 60.

Special Topic Supplements

You had a heart attack. Now what? If you don't know the answer, you're not alone. You probably received a lot of information and instructions from your doctor. This Special Topic Supplement will help you understand what happened and what you need to do to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Honored with a Spring 2017 Digital Health Award, this special topic supplement brings all four parts of our award-winning heart failure series, along with other articles of interest to those living with HF, together in one helpful publication.

Cooking at home can be a daunting task, but a rewarding one for your diet and lifestyle (and your wallet). Making small changes in your diet is important to your heart health. Here are simple, healthy and affordable recipes and cooking tips.